Written Answers Tuesday 27 September 2005

Scottish Executive

Architecture

Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive how many competitions or awards for architecture and design it has funded or part-funded in each of the last five years, giving the name and size of each award.

Patricia Ferguson: As an integral part of its policy to raise the quality of the built environment across Scotland, the Scottish Executive sponsors a range of competitions and awards for architecture and design. Information about such funding or part-funding during the last five years is as follows:

  

 Financial Year(s)
 Name of Competition or Award
 Nature of Prize or Award
 Funding of Prize/Award by Scottish Executive


 1998-99 onwards
 The Scottish Design Awards
A wide range of awards for individual achievement and for projects covering the entire design spectrum.Awards consist of trophy and certificate.
Historic Scotland: from 2002-03 -(£2,500-£3,000/year)Communities Scotland: from 2003-04 (£5,000-£6,000/year).Scottish Enterprise: from 2003-04 (£5,000-6,000/year). Many other sponsors.


 1999-2000 onwards
 Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning 
 Awards presented by the Executive in association with the Royal Town Planning Institute in Scotland for projects demonstrating outstanding performance. Award certificate and (since 2004) a trophy which passes to the next winner each year.
 Original cost of designing and manufacturing trophy (£950).


 2000-01 onwards
 Saltire Housing Design Awards
 Plaque and certificates for individual building projects. Several categories of award, changing each year.
£8,000/year until 2002-03,£10,000/year subsequently. 


 2001-02 onwards, replacing The Regeneration of Scotland Awards (1985 on)
 Dynamic Places Awards
 To recognise projects which demonstrate a contribution to the achievement of a dynamic place through development or regeneration projects. Different categories which vary each year. 
Communities Scotland: £5,000/year since 2001-02.Scottish Enterprise: £50,000/year since 2001-02.Additional funding by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and Scottish Natural Heritage for specific awards for non- architecture categories. 


 2002-03 onwards
 Designing Places Award 
 Award for students of Planning: prize and certificate.
 Varies: up to equivalent of £50. 


 2002-03 onwards
 The RIAS Andrew Doolan Award for Architecture
£25,000 prize to the architect of the building the judges decide is the best new building in Scotland.
£15,000/year since the death of Andrew Doolan in 2004, the original sponsor.Remainder of funding now by Doolan family and RIAS.


 2003-04 onwards
 Six: National Programme Student Awards for Architecture 
4 prizes and certificates for work by students at Scottish architecture schools: RIAS Silver MedalThe Lighthouse AwardUrban Design AwardThe SUST Award for Sustainable design. 
 Total prize money of £3,500. RIAS funds the cost of the Silver Medal.


 2004-05 onwards
 The Lighthouse Award for achievement in architecture 
£5,000 prize to acknowledge contributions to architecture in the broadest sense
£5,000/year


 2005-06 only
Archiprix Internationalbiennial competition
 Prize for best graduation projects by architecture, urban design and landscape architecture students world-wide. Hosted by Scotland this year. 
£75,000 in part-funding of award ceremony and exhibitions. Prize money of £23,000 provided by others.

Arts

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what budget has been set aside in each year since 1999 for the purchase of art collections such as the d’Offay collection.

Patricia Ferguson: Since 1999-2000 the Scottish Executive has provided purchase grants totalling over £3 million annually to the three National Institutions: Of this total, £1.26 million per annum has been provided to the National Galleries of Scotland for the purchase of art. In addition, the National Galleries have had access to one-off funding from the Executive for major additions to their collections: £0.5 million in 1999-2000 towards the purchase of Botticelli’s "The Virgin adoring the sleeping Christ Child" and £2.5 million in 2002-03 for the purchase of Titian "Venus Rising from the Sea".

  No funds have been set aside by the Executive for future acquisitions beyond the normal NGS purchase grant of £1.26 million per annum. Neither are any proposals for the purchase of art collections under consideration for additional one-off funding at the present time.

  Purchase grants are only one means by which the National Institutions acquire items for their collections. The UK Government operates a scheme under which works of art can be accepted by the state in lieu of Inheritance Tax. The Heritage Lottery Fund also funds acquisitions and gave £7.6 million each for the purchase of the Botticelli and the Titian by the National Galleries of Scotland. The National Heritage Memorial Fund acts as funder of last resort to save works of art for the nation and gave £3 million towards the joint purchase of "The Three Graces" by the National Galleries of Scotland and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The National Art Collections Fund has also funded acquisitions in Scotland, giving £0.5 million towards the purchase of the Titian by the National Galleries of Scotland. The National Institutions receive a significant number of bequests of items for their collections from private individuals and as well as financial donations which can be applied towards the purchase of works of art.

Arts

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent in each year since 1999 on the acquisition of art collections.

Patricia Ferguson: The level of annual purchase grant provided to the National Galleries of Scotland by the Scottish Executive is set out in the answer to question S2W-19126 on 27 September 2005. The actual level of expenditure by NGS may be supplemented by additional income or financial donations and is set out in their annual accounts which are laid before the Scottish Parliament.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Broadcasting

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Ofcom regarding the impact on vulnerable groups in Scotland when the switch over from analogue to digital TV takes place.

Patricia Ferguson: Broadcasting is a reserved matter. The Scottish Executive regularly engages with Ofcom to discuss different aspects of broadcasting in Scotland, including digital switchover. The Executive has made clear to Ofcom the importance it attaches to social inclusion. Officials have also met the Scottish representative on the Ofcom Consumer Panel to discuss broadcasting and digital switchover issues as they affect Scotland.

Broadcasting

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many vulnerable people it estimates will be affected by the switch over from analogue to digital TV in 2008.

Patricia Ferguson: Broadcasting is a reserved matter. On 15 September 2005, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP, confirmed the timetable for digital switchover and announced details of a support scheme to make sure that no one is left behind in the switch. Questions about digital switchover are a matter for UK Ministers at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

Broadcasting

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding provision for vulnerable groups in Scotland who cannot afford to purchase the equipment needed to change from analogue to digital TV and what action it can take itself in this respect.

Patricia Ferguson: Broadcasting is a reserved matter. However, Scottish ministers have made clear to the UK Government the importance the Scottish Executive attaches to social inclusion. Scottish ministers’ position is that, when digital switchover is complete, television services should be available to as great a number of people as possible without any unnecessary financial burden.

Drug Misuse

Campbell Martin (West of Scotland) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what facilities for drug rehabilitation are available in the North Ayrshire local authority area and how such facilities compare with those available in previous years.

Hugh Henry: There are two specialist drug treatment and rehabilitation services located in North Ayrshire local authority area: the Townhead Centre in Irvine and the Vernon Centre in Saltcoats. Both services provide a wide range of interventions, including substitute prescribing, needle exchange, counselling, community rehabilitation etc.

  The same level of service provision was recorded in 2003-04.

Drug Misuse

Campbell Martin (West of Scotland) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time was for drug rehabilitation treatment in the North Ayrshire local authority area in each of the last five years; what the current figure is, and how this compares with (a) East Ayrshire local authority area, (b) South Ayrshire local authority area and (c) each NHS board area.

Hugh Henry: This information is not held centrally. Average waiting times are not regarded as a particularly effective measure of the availability and efficiency of drugs services.

  A national waiting times information framework was implemented in April 2004. It collects data on the number of people who wait for less than one week, less than two weeks, and so on, for up to four different treatment and support interventions. Information is collected at the Alcohol and Drug Action Team (ADAT) level.

  Reports are submitted to the Scottish Executive each quarter, and can be viewed on: http://www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org/wtpilot/reports.htm.

Drug Misuse

Campbell Martin (West of Scotland) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive how many registered heroin users there were in the North Ayrshire local authority area in each of the last five years; what the current figure is, and how this compares with (a) East Ayrshire local authority area, (b) South Ayrshire local authority area and (c) each NHS board area.

Hugh Henry: There is not a central register of heroin users in Scotland.

  The Scottish Drug Misuse Database collects information on new clients at their point of contact with drug treatment and care services. The following table details the percentage of new clients reporting heroin use in (i) North Ayrshire, East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire local authority areas and (ii) each NHS board area, from 1999 to 2004. Data for 2004-05 will be published in December 2005

  

 Area
 % of Individuals Reporting Heroin Use


 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04


 North Ayrshire
 71
 83
 76
 71
 66


 East Ayrshire
 77
 83
 78
 77
 71


 South Ayrshire
 85
 86
 72
 68
 66


 NHS Boards
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04


 Argyll and Clyde
 81
 84
 82
 80
 79


 Ayrshire and Arran
 76
 84
 76
 72
 67


 Borders
 42
 48
 43
 47
 41


 Dumfries and Galloway
 96
 98
 91
 91
 81


 Fife
 69
 73
 70
 75
 72


 Forth Valley
 82
 88
 76
 78
 72


 Grampian
 81
 87
 88
 86
 85


 Greater Glasgow
 84
 86
 84
 83
 70


 Highland
 59
 70
 67
 70
 62


 Lanarkshire
 77
 84
 83
 75
 69


 Lothian
 46
 59
 70
 66
 67


 Orkney
 -
 -
 17
 -
 -


 Shetland
 23
 47
 84
 84
 81


 Tayside
 26
 32
 51
 53
 67

Drug Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18969 by Hugh Henry on 14 September 2005, whether a methadone programme is recommended as a harm-reduction aid to help people move to a drug-free lifestyle.

Hugh Henry: Methadone will not suit every patient. In any case, decisions on treatments, or combinations of treatments, are for individual patients and their medical professionals. The Scottish Executive encourages a range of interventions to be available locally for people wishing to move towards a drug-free lifestyle.

Drug Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been undertaken on whether a methadone programme will lead to a drug-free lifestyle.

Hugh Henry: Methadone is used as a treatment in many countries, and its benefits are supported by a substantial body of national and international research. Both the National Treatment Outcome Research Study and the early results from the Drug Outcome Research In Scotland study confirm the benefits from drug treatment, including methadone, in terms of reduced use of illegal drugs, reduced levels of injecting, reduced criminal activity and significant health gains for individuals.

Economy

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-16312 by Mr Jim Wallace on 12 May 2005, whether it has reconsidered its position on the production of a separate Scottish national reform programme for growth and jobs under the Lisbon agenda; if so, whether this will be ready to present in autumn 2005, and whether it will publicise the details of any such programme.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive will not produce a separate national reform programme. National reform programmes are being produced at member state level. The UK position on economic reform is consistent with that of the Executive.

  The refocus of the Lisbon Strategy towards growth and employment aligns policy priorities in the EU with those that currently exist in the UK and in Scotland. The Executive’s priorities are outlined in the Framework for Economic Development in Scotland and A Smart, Successful Scotland.

Economy

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific measures it intends to take in order to support growth and employment under the revised Lisbon agenda.

Nicol Stephen: The new guidelines established in the revised Lisbon Strategy, which focus greater attention on productivity and employment, align the Lisbon policy priorities closely with those that currently exist in Scotland and the United Kingdom. The economic development priorities of the Executive are set out in the long-term economic strategy The Framework for Economic Development in Scotland and the Executive’s Enterprise strategy A Smart, Successful Scotland (SSS) .

  The three key Lisbon objectives for growth and jobs (making Europe a more attractive place to invest and work; knowledge and innovation for growth, and creating more and better jobs) fit well with the three main policy objectives of SSS (global connections; skills and learning, and growing business).

  Global connections has a range of policies aimed at encouraging Scottish companies to increase their involvement in global markets and international collaborations. These policies also promote Scotland as a world class location to live, study, work and invest. The policies relating to the skills and learning objective aim to exploit high-skill levels, support lifelong learning, continuing workforce development and increasing economic activity. Finally, the growing business theme promotes innovation and entrepreneurship, supporting new companies and growing business of scale.

Economy

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be the particular challenges facing Scotland in respect of growth and employment under the revised Lisbon agenda of spring 2005.

Nicol Stephen: The economic challenges facing Scotland with respect to the Lisbon agenda of growth and employment are similar to those identified and discussed in The Framework for Economic Development in Scotland (FEDS) . These relate primarily to the productivity challenge facing the Scottish economy and, in particular, closing the productivity gap between Scotland and the world’s leading advanced economies. FEDS also highlights the importance of research and development and innovation as a key driver of productivity and economic development, which is also a Lisbon objective.

  In terms of employment, Scotland is performing very well by European standards. Over 150,000 people have entered employment since the creation of the Scottish Parliament and our employment rate is in excess of the current 2010 Lisbon target and among the highest in the European Union.

Economy

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which (a) parliamentary body and (b) social partners in Scotland have been consulted in respect of a national programme for growth and jobs to be submitted to the European Commission in autumn 2005 by (i) the Executive and (b) the UK Government.

Nicol Stephen: National reform programmes are being produced at member state level. The UK position on economic reform is consistent with that of the Executive. The Lisbon Strategy and the renewed EU focus on growth and jobs fits well with existing Executive policy, as set out in The Framework for Economic Development in Scotland (FEDS)  and the Executive’s Enterprise strategy A Smart Successful Scotland (SSS). Both of these documents have been informed by discussion with stakeholders and through regular consultation with the Scottish Parliament and Parliamentary committees. The Executive also consults regularly with key stakeholders through various forums, ensuring that all views are represented.

  The UK Government consults widely with national, regional, local and sectoral stakeholders in developing proposals for structural economic reform. In preparation of its national reform programme, the UK government has held an open stakeholder dialogue from 8 July to the 12 August 2005, inviting comments and input from all stakeholders across the United Kingdom on the proposals for structural economic reform. Responses were received from the private, public and voluntary sectors. The Executive inputted to this process and has on-going consultation with the UK government on the national reform programme. Many of the reforms necessary to meet the Lisbon objectives have already been implemented in the UK and in Scotland and were consulted on prior to implementation.

Economy

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to consult the Parliament regarding a (a) Scottish national and (b) UK programme for growth and jobs and, if so, when.

Nicol Stephen: National reform programmes are being produced at member state level. The UK position on economic reform is consistent with that of the Executive The Lisbon Strategy and the renewed EU focus on growth and jobs fits well with existing Executive policy, as set out in The Framework for Economic Development in Scotland (FEDS)  and the Executive’s Enterprise strategy A Smart Successful Scotland (SSS). Both these documents have been informed through discussion with stakeholders in various forums and through regular consultation with the Scottish Parliament and parliamentary committees.

  The UK Government consults widely with national, regional, local and sectoral stakeholders in developing proposals for structural economic reform. Many of the reforms necessary to meet the Lisbon objectives have already been implemented in the UK and in Scotland and have been consulted on. In preparation of its National reform programme, which is due to be submitted on 15 October 2005, the UK government has held an open stakeholder dialogue from 8 July to the 12 August 2005, inviting comments and input from all stakeholders across the United Kingdom on the proposals for structural economic reform. Any new commitments will, in accordance with normal government practice, be consulted on.

Economy

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to engage the Parliament and social partners in Scotland in (a) discussions and (b) action in respect of the revised Lisbon agenda programme for growth and jobs.

Nicol Stephen: The revised Lisbon agenda for growth and jobs fits well with existing Executive policy as set out in Framework for Economic Development  in Scotland  and the Executive’s Enterprise strategy  A Smart, Successful Scotland (SSS).  The Executive consults regularly with our key stakeholders through various forums, ensuring that all views are represented. Many of the reforms necessary to meet the Lisbon objectives have already been implemented in the UK and in Scotland and have been consulted on. All new commitments will, in accordance with normal government practice, be consulted on.

Economy

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to engage local authorities in (a) discussions and (b) action in respect of the revised Lisbon agenda programme for growth and jobs.

Nicol Stephen: The revised Lisbon agenda for growth and jobs fits well with existing Executive policy as set out in Framework for Economic Development  in Scotland  and the Executive’s Enterprise strategy  A Smart, Successful Scotland (SSS).  The Executive consults regularly with our key stakeholders, including Scottish local authorities, through various forums in order to ensure that all views are represented. Many of the reforms necessary to meet the Lisbon objectives have already been implemented in the UK and in Scotland and have been consulted on. All new commitments will, in accordance with normal government practice, be consulted on.

Economy

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific measures it is taking to ensure that its policy and budgetary actions comply with the European Commission’s Integrated Guidelines for Growth and Jobs (2005-2008) , broken down by guidelines 1 to 23 and showing how the Executive's policy and budgetary actions apply to each guideline.

Nicol Stephen: The European Commission’s Integrated Guidelines for Growth and Jobs (2005-2008) sets out for member states a package of broad policy guidance on macroeconomic, microeconomic and employment issues. On the basis of the guidelines, member states will draw up three-year national reform programmes. Many of the reforms necessary to meet the Lisbon objectives have already been implemented in the UK and in Scotland.

  The national reform programme of the United Kingdom will be consistent with the implementation of the Executive’s economic development policies as set out in The Framework for Economic Development in Scotland and the Executive’s Enterprise strategy, A Smart, Successful Scotland.

Economy

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its national employment rate targets are for (a) 2008 and (b) 2010 under the revised Lisbon agenda and what contribution it has made to the setting of UK targets for the same indicators.

Nicol Stephen: The requirement to produce national employment rate targets for 2008 and 2010, under the revised Lisbon agenda, is for member states. The national employment rates for both Scotland and the UK are presently in excess of the 70 per cent target set by Lisbon for 2010. The Executive has on-going dialogue with UK departments in accordance with existing practice to ensure Scotland is fully represented. The Executive has also contributed directly to the UK national reform programme with specific regard to this issue.

Football

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much lottery support was awarded to football-specific projects in each year from 1997-98 to 2001-02, giving details of each project and the amount awarded in each case.

Patricia Ferguson: This information is not held centrally. I have, however, asked the Chair of  sportscotland to write to the member with the information that they have available.

Football

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much lottery support was awarded to football-specific projects in each year from 2002-03 to 2004-05, giving details of each project and the amount awarded in each case.

Patricia Ferguson: This information is not held centrally. I have, however, asked the Chair of  sportscotland to write to the member with the information that they have available.

Health

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been seen at each Glasgow Emergency Medical Service centre on its busiest night in the last twelve months.

Mr Andy Kerr: The following table shows the number of patients that have been seen at each Glasgow Emergency Medical Service centre on its busiest night (in terms of patient numbers) between 1 September 2004 and 31 August 2005. These figures are supplied by the Greater Glasgow NHS Board.

  

 Primary Care Emergency Centre
 Date
 Number of Patients


 Cardonald
 3 January 2005
 115


 Drumchapel
 3 January 2005
 147


 Lightburn
 28 December 2004
 153


 Stobhill
 3 January 2005
 212


 Victoria
 27 December 2004
 278


 Western
 2 January 2005
 92



  Out-of-hours services will continue to be provided at the new Stobhill and Victoria Hospitals. Around £190 million is being invested in these new builds. The new Hospitals will provide Minor Injury Units which are well placed to deal quickly and effectively with the problems out-of-hours patients present.

Health

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-17976 by Mr Andy Kerr on 16 August 2005, how many operations were cancelled on (a) the day of and (b) the day after admission and how many of the patients involved were not readmitted within a month in each quarter of the last five years for which figures are available in each NHS (i) board and (ii) hospital.

Mr Andy Kerr: The specific information requested is not available centrally.

  Limited information is available on the number of in-patient/day case episodes where operations/procedures were not carried out following admission. Information on the number of in-patient and day case episodes where operations/procedures were cancelled following admission by NHS board of treatment and hospital, for calendar years 2000 to 2004, and the number of patients who were not subsequently admitted to hospital for an operation within 30 days of discharge has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 37492). It is not possible to identify on what day the operation was cancelled.

  For the calendar years 2000 to 2004 the percentage of operations which were cancelled has decreased from 2.0% to 1.8%.

  Operations can be cancelled due to various unforeseen pressures. Some examples of these are; an influx of emergency admissions, widespread staff sickness, theatre equipment failure or infection in wards.

  On occasions, some patients may be sent home, following admission, when a planned procedure/operation has not been carried out. Some reasons for this include; patient being unfit for treatment due to illness (e.g. chest infection), having omitted to fast before admission, failing to follow pre-admission advice on medication, or where theatre time is unavailable due to unexpected complications arising in earlier theatre cases.

  In setting out an initial response to Professor David Kerr’s report Building A Health Service Fit For The Future, I made it clear that I supported his proposals that we should stream planned care, separating it, where possible, from emergency care. I have asked the Regional Planning Groups to develop arrangements for streaming planned care that will reduce cancellations, increase predictability and workflow and reduce waiting times.

Housing

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many short Scottish secure tenancies have been issued by registered social landlords since their introduction.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Information about short Scottish secure tenancies from registered social landlords has been collected since September 2002. A total of 1,228 short Scottish secure tenancies have been issued up to 31 March 2005. The following table provides a breakdown on a yearly basis:

  

 
 Number of Short SSTs Issued


2002-03
 341


2003-04
 427


2004-05
 460


Total Granted
 1,228

Housing

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many short Scottish secure tenancies have been terminated by registered social landlords since their introduction.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The information requested is not held centrally.

Housing

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many temporary accommodation places were available in each of the last three years (a) in total and (b) broken down by (i) registered social landlord and (ii) local authority area.

Malcolm Chisholm: Information is not held centrally on the total number of temporary accommodation places available, neither in properties owned by registered social landlords, nor in properties in other tenures.

  Under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, as amended, local authorities have a duty to ensure that temporary accommodation is made available for homeless people in a number of different circumstances. The accommodation can be provided across a range of tenures including private rented accommodation and temporary accommodation in the council’s own property. The latest available information on numbers of homeless households in temporary accommodation in each local authority area at 30 September 2005 was published in February 2005 and is available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00399-00.asp.

  The table shows for each local authority for each of the last three years the total number of houses owned by the council which the council has designated as temporary accommodation for homeless applicants.

  Local Authority Dwelling Stock and Temporary Accommodation for Homeless Households as at 31 March 2003-05 by Local Authority Area.

  

 Local Authority Area
 2003
 2004
 2005


 Total Stock
 Designated temp. Accommodation for Homeless
 Total Stock
 Designated temp. Accommodation for Homeless
 Total Stock
 Designated temp. Accommodation for Homeless


 Local Authorities
 415,992
 1,712
 388,970
 2,066
 373,554
 2,923


 Aberdeen City
 25,841
 66
 25,193
 72
 24,683
 72


 Aberdeenshire
 14,642
 74
 14,316
 90
 13,994
 107


 Angus
 9,043
 46
 8,737
 51
 8,494
 51


 Argyll and Bute
 6,302
 24
 6,062
 40
 5,707
 40


 Clackmannanshire
 5,787
 71
 5,607
 51
 5,482
 59


 Dumfries and Galloway
 11,878
 63
 0
 na
 0
 na


 Dundee City
 17,841
 82
 16,754
 77
 15,940
 76


 East Ayrshire
 16,037
 17
 15,313
 24
 14,657
 53


 East Dunbartonshire
 5,322
 66
 5,153
 75
 4,077
 90


 East Lothian
 9,040
 38
 8,671
 38
 8,417
 41


 East Renfrewshire
 3,804
 15
 3,695
 21
 3,536
 22


 City of Edinburgh
 26,497
 n/k
 25,399
 n/k
 24,115
 493


 Eilean Siar
 1,880
 14
 1,834
 23
 1,841
 23


 Falkirk
 19,479
 26
 18,837
 82
 18,196
 106


 Fife
 36,570
 0
 35,430
 0
 34,207
 0


 Glasgow City
 0
 nk
 0
 na
 0
 na


 Highland
 16,188
 60
 15,538
 95
 14,725
 81


 Inverclyde
 9,233
 55
 8,866
 85
 9,328
 100


 Midlothian
 6,969
 42
 6,604
 39
 6,385
 43


 Moray
 6,751
 9
 6,567
 6
 6,373
 18


 North Ayrshire
 15,928
 35
 15,333
 104
 14,816
 115


 North Lanarkshire
 43,745
 238
 42,392
 291
 41,145
 288


 Orkney
 876
 37
 838
 42
 819
 47


 Perth and Kinross
 9,142
 0
 8,807
 0
 8,312
 80


 Renfrewshire
 18,228
 112
 16,881
 105
 15,725
 136


 Scottish Borders
 0
 
 0
 na
 0
 na


 Shetland
 2,073
 60
 2,027
 60
 2,027
 93


 South Ayrshire
 9,790
 55
 9,411
 66
 9,024
 63


 South Lanarkshire
 31,872
 249
 30,358
 239
 29,094
 198


 Stirling
 7,116
 23
 6,869
 23
 6,618
 25


 West Dunbartonshire
 13,179
 50
 12,577
 182
 12,121
 240


 West Lothian
 14,939
 85
 14,901
 85
 13,696
 163


 Scottish Homes
 2,002
 0
 1,158
 0
 479
 0



  Source: Scottish Executive Housing Statistics branch – Stock 1 Return.

  Notes:

  Glasgow were unable to provide a breakdown for 2003.

  Due to stock transfer, no figures are provided for Dumfries and Galloway, Glasgow and Scottish Borders for 2004 onwards.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15293 by Cathy Jamieson on 20 April 2005, how many people charged with (a) rape, (b) attempted rape and (c) other serious sexual offences on indictment have (i) applied for, (ii) been granted and (iii) been refused bail in each year since 1999.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the following table. The bail order statistics held centrally do not distinguish separately persons charged on indictment, nor do they include information on total applications for bail or refusals of bail.

  Persons Bailed for Crimes of Indecency1,2, 1999-2004

  

 Year
 Rape
 Attempted Rape
 Other Crimes of Indecency3
 Total


 1999
 134
 47
 332
 513


 2000
 150
 48
 358
 556


 2001
 168
 38
 325
 531


 2002
 218
 49
 390
 657


 2003
 236
 52
 421
 709


 2004
 272
 67
 431
 770



  Notes:

  1. Main offence for which a person was bailed on a particular day; excludes modifications to existing bail orders.

  2. Excludes offences related to prostitution.

  3. Other crimes categorised as "crimes of indecency" in the Scottish Executive Justice Department classification of crimes and offences, excluding offences related to prostitution.

Justice

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which body enforces law and order on oil installations in the North Sea.

Cathy Jamieson: Grampian Police is responsible for maintaining law and order on Scottish North Sea offshore installations.

NHS Services

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to increase patients’ access to NHS podiatry services.

Mr Andy Kerr: The issue of access to NHS podiatry services is a matter for clinical decision in the light of the health needs of individual patients. The planning and provision of services is a matter for NHS boards.

  At national level, the Scottish Executive is committed to increasing the number of Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) including podiatrists by 1,500 by 2007, as set out in the Partnership Agreement commitment. This is being backed up with action and investment. The Allied Health Professions Officer for Scotland and the Centre for Change and Innovation are working with podiatrists and other AHPs to support service redesign where this would enhance access for patients. The AHP Strategy Future Directions for the Allied Health Professions in Scotland also provides an action plan to aid recruitment and retention. Already, £400,000 has been provided for an AHP return to practice initiative, the development of alternative routes to state registration and the development of AHP specialist practitioner posts.

Palliative Care

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce targets for the provision of palliative care units in NHS board areas.

Mr Andy Kerr: I do not intend to set targets for palliative care provision since circumstances will vary locally. However, since 2001, every NHS board has completed a palliative care needs assessment, developed a palliative care strategy, or established a palliative care managed clinical network.

  In addition, NHS boards must now take account of a number of specialist palliative care standards that were published by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland in January 2004. One of these standards is that patients who need access to specialist palliative care services should be able to access them 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I now expect all boards to work towards implementing these standards fully, in particular by broadening access to palliative care for patients who do not have cancer. But I am also convinced that we have seen real and significant improvements in palliative care provision in every NHS board area since 2001.

Planning

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what provisions exist for third-party interests to influence decisions on planning applications for agricultural buildings.

Johann Lamont: The provisions covering publicity (neighbour notification and advertising) and consultation apply to planning applications generally. The publicity and consultation required in a particular case will depend on the circumstances of the case, e.g. whether the proposal is a departure from the development plan.

  It is open to anyone to comment on a planning application and it is for the planning authority, in the first instance, to weigh up any competing considerations and reach a decision on the application.

Planning

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to reform the provisions that exist for third-party interests to influence decisions on planning applications for agricultural buildings.

Johann Lamont: There are no plans at present to reform the publicity and consultation procedures specifically in relation to planning applications for agricultural buildings.

  However, our White Paper - Modernising the Planning System, published in June 2005, contains a package of reforms that will offer greater opportunity for local people to have stronger participation in the planning process at earlier stages.

  The white paper is available in the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre (Bib. number 36995) and on the internet at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/06/27113519/35231.

Police

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18506 by Cathy Jamieson on 14 September 2005, whether it will provide a breakdown by division of the annual figures for the number of officers eligible to retire.

Cathy Jamieson: The information held centrally covers the total number of expected retirements. It does not enable figures to be provided at the level of detail requested.

Prison Service

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the most up-to-date figures are in respect of the number of short-term prisoners who have died as a result of a drugs overdose shortly after leaving prison.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information available to SPS is that during 2003, 36 ex-offenders died within one month of release, 10 of these deaths were within three days of release. These figures do not reflect sentence length.

Research

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects research and development spending in Scotland to meet the EU average of 2% of GDP and what percentage of this spending it expects to come from the private sector.

Nicol Stephen: Total Scottish expenditure (public and private) on research and development in Scotland was equivalent to 1.5 per cent of GDP in 2003. Total private business expenditure on research and development (R&D) in Scotland was equivalent to 0.6 per cent of GDP in 2003, which accounted for just under two fifths (38%) of the total R&D expenditure in Scotland.

  The Executive has not set specific targets for growth in R&D expenditure relative to GDP, but is committed to improving Scotland’s position relative to our main competitors. The Executive and its agencies have a range of policies to encourage R&D and commercialisation activity in Scotland and address this priority. These include:

  The SCoRe and SEEKIT initiatives which support collaborative, pre-competitive R&D, jointly undertaken between SMEs and public sector science base as well as enhancing public sector research organisations’ ability to work with business;

  The highly successful R&D grants under SMART/SPUR/SPUR plus aimed at small and medium sized enterprises, researchers and prospective entrepreneurs, which are now at record levels;

  The Proof of Concept fund of £40 million fills a funding gap aimed at a pre-development conceptual phase of high risk projects;

  The Scottish Co-investment Fund (£45 million) and Scottish Proposal Assistance Fund (SPAF) provide additional sources of assistance;

  The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council has established a Knowledge Transfer Grant which will total at least £12 million in 2005-06, double the level in 2002-03, and

  R&D plus designed to actively support large companies engaged in new and innovative research aimed at developing products with potential for global commercial success.

  Complementary to these programmes is the establishment by Scottish Enterprise of three Intermediary Technology Institutes (ITIs). The three ITIs focused on the three industry sectors: energy, life sciences and communication technology and digital media will receive funding of £450 million over 10 years. They will assist the commercial exploitation of knowledge and the creation of more knowledge based companies in Scotland.

  In addition to this, annual UK surveys continue to show that Scotland performs well in UK terms on a range of measures of commercialisation. The Executive is consulting with business about a further scheme linking business rates relief with research and development expenditure.

Research

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects research and development (R&D) spending in Scotland to meet the EU target under the Lisbon agenda of 3% of GDP.

Nicol Stephen: Total Scottish expenditure on research and development in Scotland was equivalent to 1.5 per cent of GDP in 2003, which is the most recent year for which we have data. The Executive has not set specific targets for growth in R&D expenditure relative to GDP, but is committed to improving Scotland’s position relative to our main competitors.

Research

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects Scotland to meet the EU target set by the Lisbon agenda for two thirds of all research and development (R&D) spending to come from the private sector.

Nicol Stephen: Total Scottish expenditure (public and private) on research and development in Scotland was equivalent to 1.5 per cent of GDP in 2003. Total private business expenditure on research and development in Scotland was equivalent to 0.6 per cent of GDP in 2003, which accounted for just under two fifths (38%) of the total R&D expenditure in Scotland.

  The Executive has not set specific numerical targets for growth in R&D expenditure relative to GDP, but is committed to improving Scotland’s position relative to our main competitors.

Rural Development

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider widening the definition of "community" in assessing eligibility for Scottish Rural Partnership Fund grants.

Rhona Brankin: In 2004, a review and full consultation exercise was carried out on the Scottish Rural Partnership Fund (SRPF). We are considering the outcome of that review and the fit of the SRPF in the context of our wider rural policy and range of support mechanisms. An announcement about future arrangements and programme structures will be made in due course.

Rural Development

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it takes account of the likelihood of the proposed recipient of a grant under the Scottish Rural Partnership Fund being able to make good use of the grant and to continue to be viable.

Rhona Brankin: Projects approved under the three programme strands of the Scottish Rural Partnership Fund (SRPF) were assessed by an advisory group to ensure that proposals presented were achievable and sustainable.

Rural Development

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many grants, allocated under the Scottish Rural Partnership Fund have not been taken up by the applicants and what the total sum was of such grants.

Rhona Brankin: The total number of approved grant applications across all three strands of the 2005-06 application round of the Scottish Rural Partnership Fund (SRPF) which were not taken up amounted to nine. The value of those grants was £377,697.

Scottish Executive Publications

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who holds editorial responsibility for the production of Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland (GERS) reports and whether there are any plans to change this arrangement.

Mr Tom McCabe: Editorial responsibility for the Executive’s annual Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland (GERS) publication resides with the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser, which is part of the Office of the Permanent Secretary’s Department. There are no plans to alter this arrangement.

Student Finance

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice and information it has given to students regarding the graduate endowment scheme.

Nicol Stephen: Before the introduction of the Graduate Endowment, there were a number of public consultations and debates which were widely reported in the media. Following this, an information booklet for students and parents detailing what the graduate endowment was about, who had to pay it, how much they would pay and how payments could be made was sent to all Scottish Secondary schools for them to distribute to all pupils in fourth, fifth and sixth year.

  Students have also been alerted to the graduate endowment in the guidance issued by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) each year. This is available to everyone completing an application for support and gives details of the graduate endowment.

  Further details are also given on letters issued to students telling them how much support they will receive. These letters also refer students to the Student Awards Agency website which contains more detailed information.

  The leaflets "Helping you meet the cost of learning" and "What support is available for young Scottish students in higher education", which are produced by the Scottish Executive, also provide details of the Graduate Endowment scheme.

Student Finance

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has allocated to make students aware of the graduate endowment scheme and its financial implications.

Nicol Stephen: No additional funding had been made available to make students aware of the graduate endowment scheme. Notification of a student’s liability to the endowment was publicised using existing Student Awards Agency for Scotland and Scottish Executive documentation.

Student Finance

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from interested parties regarding the graduate endowment scheme.

Nicol Stephen: Before the introduction of the Graduate Endowment, there was wide ranging consultation both by the Cubie Committee and the Scottish Executive.

  Details of the Cubie Consultation can be found in the document Cubie – an independent enquiry into student finance which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 4126).

  Details of the Scottish Executive consultation can be found in the document Scotland the Learning Nation – Helping Students which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 8193).

  The Scottish Executive and the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) has received a total of 95 ministerial letters on the Graduate Endowment since March 2001.

  Since January 2000, the Executive has also been asked a total of 44 parliamentary questions on the Graduate Endowment.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Information Technology

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it is considering registering appropriate .eu top-level domains for itself and the Parliament in phase 1 of EURid’s sunrise period and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

John Scott: The Scottish Parliament intends to register a number of appropriate .eu domain names. The registration of .eu domains will be undertaken to protect the Parliament’s interests from activities such as cybersquatting and to provide a redirection service to the Parliament’s website at www.scottish.parliament.uk .

Information Technology

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body who holds the copyright to the video material available from the www.holyrood.tv website and what restrictions are placed on its use by (a) members of the public, (b) organisations and (c) MSPs.

Andrew Welsh: The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body hold the copyright to the video material on the www.holyrood.tv website. The one restriction on use is that the materials are only for viewing online; none of the contents of the site are downloadable. This restriction is applicable to all people who access and use the website.

  Specific extracts of Parliamentary proceedings which take place in the Main Chamber and committee rooms can however be ordered, (in DVD or VHS video format), at a small cost, from the Parliament’s Broadcasting Office.

Parliamentary Accommodation

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the total cost is of removing pigeon guano from the Parliament building.

John Scott: The total cost that can be attributed to cleaning pigeon guano is £6,034. This relates to the east elevation of the MSP building. Guano will also have been cleaned as part of routine external cleaning, these costs can not be broken down.

Parliamentary Accommodation

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the total cost has been of purchasing and installing netting to prevent pigeon access to the Parliament’s campus.

John Scott: The cost to install pigeon deterrent netting to the east elevation of the MSP building is £4,815.